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Thursday, March 27, 2014

Improvements Continue at El Paso Public Parks

Fiesta-Balboa, Radford, and Armijo Parks See Progress

The City of El Paso has provided updates on three public park projects currently underway around town. The parks are just three in a myriad that will see improvement projects in the coming years, many of which are funded by the 2012 Quality of Life bond initiative approved by voters.

Recently installed playground and athletic equipment at the new Fiesta-Balboa park. (City of El Paso)

Fiesta-Balboa Park on the West Side is the closest to completion. This project has transformed vacant properties near Mesa Street into a pocket park that includes amenities such as a basketball court, play equipment, benches, and landscaping.

Homes that once occupied the properties were severely damaged in the infamous storm that caused severe flooding in El Paso in 2006. For years, only concrete slabs showed a hint of the homes that once sat there.

Black Stallion LB Construction of El Paso was awarded the park project last year. Fiesta-Balboa Park should open in the coming weeks.

Further east, in Central El Paso, the brand new Radford Park is also showing concrete signs of progress as sidewalks have been added along Radford Street and park paths are being set. The nearly three-acre park is located just south of the Pershing Gate to Fort Bliss.

Construction crews work on a winding path at the site of the future Radford Park in Central El Paso. The brand new park should be ready for use by August of this year. (City of El Paso)

New amenities for the planned park include two playground areas, one for toddlers and one for school-age children, bike racks, sidewalks, and lighting. According to the site plan, paths will meander through the park, which is located on a somewhat-sloped property. Two sports courts will be located in the southwest quadrant of the park, including one that can be used for hard-court soccer or basketball.

Medlock Commercial Contractors of El Paso was awarded the contract by the City in December, with completion tentatively set for August 2014.

And a project to improve Armijo Park in South El Paso should start next month, according to a public meeting held last week. About half of the park should be affected.

Construction crews will replace a playground area with new equipment, make improvements to sidewalks and paths, install new trees, and make lighting improvements. The project was awarded to Kaizen Construction Service of El Paso last month.